The 2019 International Workshop on Radiative Transfer Models for Satellite Data Assimilation was successfully held in Tianjin from April 29 to May 2, 2019. The Workshop, jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather/Joint Center for Satellite Research and Application, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forets ECMWF and the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation JCSDA, was attended by more than 100 experts from universities and research institutes in the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and China.

YANG Jun, Director General of the National Satellite Meteorological Center NSMC, presided over the opening ceremony. Deputy Administrator of the China Meteorological Administration CMA YU Xinwen attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. At the same time, Dr. YU announced the establishment of the CMA Scientific Steering Group on Radiative Transfer Models by inviting nine internationally renowned scientists in the field of radiative transfer to serve as scientific consultants, with a letter of appointment presented. Relevant leaders from Department of International Cooperation, Department of Foreting and Networking, Department of Integrated Observation, CMA Mr. YANG Yinming, Director General of Tianjin Meteorological Service and his Deputy Mr. GAO Runxiang, Mr. ZHANG Peng, Deputy Director General of NSMC, Mr. ZHANG Zhiqing, Chief Engineer of FY-4 Ground Application System, Mr. ZHAO Ping, Deputy Director General of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences and other relevant experts attended the opening ceremony.

International Workshop on Radiative Transfer Models for Satellite Data Assimilation

There were a total of 35 thematic reports delivered at the Workshop. Extensive and in-depth discussions were conducted in the fields of frontier requirements for radiative transfer models, model performance, optical properties of gas/aerosol/cloud/precipitation, surface reflectivity and emissivity models, and Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder GIIRS GIIRS. In addition, results and experiences were shared on the joint development of international radiative transfer reference models. At present, the team led by Prof. WENG Fuzhong, Chief of the Joint Center for Satellite Research and also the Application/CMA specially-appointed expert, has made significant progress in the development of Radiative Transfer Models ARMS. This seminar, which reviewed the current capability of Radiative Transfer Models in international frontier, finding out the new requirements of Radiative Transfer Models for Satellite Data Assimilation and prioritizing the ultra-fast computing capabilities in atmospheric and surface radiative transfer processes, will provide reference for further development of Radiative Transfer Models in China. The meeting also identified the next action plan for the development of the radiative transfer models, including a summary workshop report, a special issue in international academic journals, and an outcome report at the 22nd International TOVS Study Conferences ITSC.